Zealot

Sire profile:

When the first New Zealand sons of Jersey super sire Okura Manhatten burst on to the scene a year ago as proven sires in their own right CRV Ambreed’s Whitimore Man Zealot shouldered his way above the rest with a production and type profile emulating that of his famous sire almost identically. Now a year later he holds steady as the CRV flagship for Manhatten sons transmitting tremendous protein and milk production, from capacious milky cows with superb udders.

Zealot’s first-crop daughters emerged in spring 2008 amidst the excitement surrounding daughters from several Manhatten sons set to graduate, exposing early on what a prolific sire of sons the international protein ‘king’ was to become. And whilst many of them had inherited Manhatten’s protein transmitting power to some degree none quite embodied their sire like Zealot did. This son matched high production with farmer likeability as well as a sound type profile, but with the added distinction of siring udders significantly superior to those of Manhatten, and being backed by an outstanding cow family. 

With a New Zealand Merit Index (NZMI) of 217, and Breeding Worth (BW) 204/84% reliability from 84 daughters milking in 37 herds, Zealot is a modest dual index sire. However there is no denying he possesses protein power with his protein BV 17kg amongst the breed’s best and only 1kg behind that of Manhatten. With a milk BV 54 (670 litres above breed average) coupled with good milking speed BV 0.39, farmer opinion BV 0.34, and total longevity BV 67, there is no doubt the Zealots love to milk and stay around for more. Somatic cells however remain a little on the high side and need to be watched.

Zealot’s type proof is currently based on 54 inspected daughters and reveals slightly larger than average cattle with excellent overall dairy conformation, and standout udders. They exhibit above average capacity, correct legs, and good rump width, with rump angle slightly high. Udders show superb ligament and strong attachments both fore and rear, with near ideal teat placement. The Zealots are certainly built to last and have all the qualities to excel under supplemented and/or high production systems.

Exceptional cow family

There are always two sides to a pedigree, and whilst having a sire such as Manhatten commands attention, the spotlight on Zealot should also fall on the tremendous cow family behind him. Zealot emerges from the Whitimore stud of Peter and Maxine Loveridge in the Taranaki. Now dispersed, Zealot’s high profile female family was much sought after when the herd sold three years ago. His dam Ashdown Bereta Britany GR EX8 exhibited high production over many lactations, and was originally attained by the Loveridges, along with several other members of this extremely high indexing cow family when they purchased the Ashdown herd of Maurice Stevenson at Ashurst, Manawatu in the 1990s.

Sired by Mason Boomer Sooner Berretta out of an EX8 Baylea Fare Alex cow, Britany’s appeal was the exceptional cow family she represented. “The whole Britany family was a very big milking family,” says Peter, “with fantastic temperament.”

The ‘Britanys’ were also prolific producers of females. So much so that when the Whitimore stud dispersed in 2007 38% of the herd comprised ‘Britany’ descendants. Zealot was indeed a rare acquisition as Ashdown Bereta Britany was only flushed once at Whitimore resulting in two heifers and one surprise male – Zealot – the only male representative of the entire Britany family at Whitimore.

Zealot’s progeny will be keenly watched by Peter and Maxine. “The Britany family were always leggy as young cows,” comments Peter, “but they matured into wonderful cows by age 4 or 5 years.” He anticipates Zealot’s progeny will do the same.

Zealot is currently being used by CRV Ambreed as a sire of sons with his first sons entering progeny test this year. Zealot’s second crop daughters are expected to enter production in 2012.

Ashdown Brittany Penn SJ2 C

(s. Burghams Penny GR)

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Ashdown Brittany Alex SJ3 EX8

(s. Baylea Fare Alex)

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Ashdown Bereta Britany GR EX8

(s. Mason Boomer Sooner Berretta)

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Whitimore Man Zealot-ET

(Okura Manhatten ET SJ3)

  Indexes and Breeding Values quoted as per AE run 6/3/2010